Means for operating and controlling single-phase alternating-current motors.



, v B. G. LAMME.

MEANS FOR OPERATING AND CONTROLLING SINGLE PHASE ALTERNATING CURRENT MOTORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1904. RENEWED MAY 19, 1909.

964,659. I Patented July-19, 191 0.

Fig.2.

I I I I INVENTOR zy ;BY I

ATTORNEY v MEANS FOR OPERATING. AND CONTROLLING SINGLE-PHASE ALTERNATING-CURRENT UNITED STATES.

PATENT oFFIcE.

-BENJ'AMIN e. LAMME, or PITTSBIiR-G, PENNsYLvANIii, assIGNoa T WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC &'--MANU FACTURI1\TG COMPANY, A CORPORATION'OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MOTORS. w

' 4 Spliifiea'tioxiiui Letters Patent i Patented J my 19, 1910i Application filed May 3, 1904, Serial. No. 206,182. Renewed May 19,1909. Serial No. 496,935.

To all whomii may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN G. LAMME,

. a citizen ofthe United States, and a .resiglei-"Phase aternating current .motors of the commuta-.

. tor type of construction, and it has for its 2o series c onnectedarmature' and field magnet object to provide .an-electrica'l system by means of which the apparent power input to motors of the character specified may be reduced, for a, given torque, and the powerfactor of the system'be correspondingly improved.

In the operation of single-phase, alternating current motors having commutators and windings, speed variation is commonly obtained by means of a'variation of the voltage' supplied thereto.' Various means have been devised for varying t-he'voltage, such as inductlon regulators, which comprise primary and secondary windings the inductive relations of which to eachother are variable,

transform s in which the active length or lengths of'onefor both windings may be varied and even devices for-rheostaticand series parallel control of the motors. When i a single-phase, series motor is started, just sufficient voltage is applied to its terminals to develop the required torque, the current supplied thereto? being largely magnetizing 1 and the power factor being very low. When starting, the apparent powerflinput to the I motor will generally be much smaller than the rated power input to themo'tor at normal speed for the same torque, but as the torque required at start may be considerably greater rthan the normal running torque, the required apparent power input at start may-be almost as great, at times, as the rated powerinput tothe motor, and

this apparent power input to the motor will be at a 'low power-factor, representing adifiicult load for the supply system to carry. The apparent power input to singlephase, series motors which are required to start under heavy loads is represented largely by the produetof the current in the motorby the voltage across the terminals of glperating and Controlling Sin ing.

the field winding, or, in other words, this apparent power input at start is required principally for the field excitation. Tlie torque of such a motoris represented by the product of the currentin the armature and the strength of'the field magnetization, the latter being approximately proportional to the ampere turns in the fieldmagnet wind- W hen starting. a motor, there is a slight difference ofpotential'between the terminals of the armature. winding neces. sary to overcome its resistance, but it has been found thatthe apparent power input to the armature .will, in general,, ',be 'much less than the apparent power-input to the field; magnet under this condition. Part of this component Will, in general, be-much less than the wattless componept to the fieldmagnet winding. If, therefore, the wattless component in the field magnet windingcan .70 i the inputto the armature is Wattless, but

I be decreased and the current in the armature increased, the total wattless input to the motor may be decreased for a given torque;

The Wattless component in the field magnet .winding may be decreased by decreasing the ampere'turns in-the field, whichalso decreases the strength of the field magnetiza- -tion and increases the armature current for a given torque, the wattless ,com onentof the input to the armature being slightly increased thereby.- It is. evident that a point may be reached where the ampere turns-in the field magnet'winding and, consequently,

the strength of the field magnetization willbe decreased so much that a-further decrease inthewattless component of thelpower input. tothe motor foryfield excitation will -ji1st equal the increase in the .wattless corn ponent of the power input to the armature. J 7- I When this-point is reached, there is no further'gain in decreasing the ampere turns in the field magnet winding for a given startring o qu y. In general, it has been found that the ampere turns in the field, magnet. winding corresponding to a certain torque with least apparent power n at to the motor at start will be consider-ab y less than the ai'npere turns desired for operating the motor at full speed. That is, if the field of the motor is suificiently weakened to give 'the des red starting torque with least apparent power input, 1t,wil1-.usually' be'much too weak for the most desirable running conditions as re- 'gards commutation.

a moton will commutate better at slowspeeds witha weak field than 'at hi h-speeds. Therefore, for the best relations 0t starting, it'is desirable that the ampere turnsin the field magnet winding be decreased and the ditions, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figures'l to 12, inclusive, are diagrams of as'many different combinations and arrangements of apparatus and circuits for practicingmy'invention.

In Fig. 1,-sinmle-phase, alternating current energy 'is, iipplied from a suitable source 1 .to a transformer winding 2, a portion of which is subdivided by means of leads 3 provided respectively with'contact terminals 4' with which an arm 5.is adapted to engage. The terminals of the'motor 6 are respectively connected bet-ween the conductors 7 and 8, which connect respectively with the arm 5 and the terminal 9 of the transformer winding 2, the s eed of the I motor being regulated by adjusting the position of the arm 5. -The field magnet winding of the motor'G is divided into two portions slO and 11 ';which are shown as con-' nectd in parallel for starting conditions, p1, when the lower, voltages are applied to f'the motor. These two portions 10 and -11 may correspond to the number of field mag-.

" net poles in the motor, oreach portion may includemorethan one magnet pole winding. In'Fig.'2, the two portions 10 and 11 of the'field magnet winding are connected in V. series, this beingtor running conditions 0t the motor, or when the higher voltages are applied thereto. Since the resistance of the field magnet winding is small,,'the currents therein, and consequently the number of ampere turns-, depend largely upon the numher of tllI'IlSi in series. Then for starting conditions,- as ,shown in- Fi 1, the field magnet Winding has a smal or number of ampere turns than in Fig. 2;. that is, the ratio of the ampere turns in the field mag- :net winding to those in the armature win ing is-inore'ased asthespeedof the motor 4 increases, in% accordance with the desirable, conditions previously outlined.

' In Figs. 3 nd 4,1 haveshown a similar 8p arrangement or-two motors, the fieldmagnet windings '12'ai1d, "13 at the-two motors f being connected in parallel forst arting, as

shown in lfig. 3, andin'fs'eries fiifirunning, as shownv in Fig.4, the arma'tnres 14 of I the'moto'rs being always connected either This is true because.

in series or in parallel, as desired, thoughprefer to connect them in parallel, as shown. It is. also possible to .vary the amount of current in the field magnet winding by arranging a shunt 15 to the field magnet wiuding 16, as showirin Fig. 5, the resistance of the shunt beingyaried as the speed ofthe motor is changed, it being requisite or desirable that this shunt have approximately the same power factor as the power input to the field magnet windings, or that it be of some other form which w ll not disturb the phase relations of the currents ,in the armature andfield magnet windings.

While I have shown only one motor ar-' ranged with a shunt to itsfield magnet winding, it is evident that the field magnet either in series or in parallel, as desired. l

.The strength of the field magnetization maybe varied by varying the voltage supplied to the field magnet winding, a suitable means for this purpose being shown in Fig. 6, comprising a transformer winding 2 having one terminal connected to the common' terminal-'17 of the armature or armatures 18 and the field magnet winding or windings 19"of one or more 'motors 6. An arm 5* is connected to field magnet terminal 20 of the ,motoror'motors 6', for varyin the point of connection of the said terminal with. the transformer 2*. Any other suit-- able, means may be employed for varying the voltage supplied to the field magnet winding'within the, scope of my invention.

The simplest means known to me for varying the ampere turns in the field mag net winding comprises an arm 21 ada ted to engage with contact terminals 22' w ich are respectively connected with suitable points in thefield .niagnet winding, substantially as shown .in Fig. 7.

It will, of course, be understood in conncction with Figs". 2, 2f 4, 5, (3 and 7, that I suitablemeans, such as that shown in F ig. 1, will be employed to effect speed regulation at the same time that the ratio of field to armature. ampere-turns is adjusted, it being-deemed unnecessary to illustrate such speed regulating means in connect-ion with each-of the figures.

It is often desirable, in the. operation of alternatingcurrent motors, to transmit en-. er at high voltages and transform to lowe'n vo tages at the point of consumption, 'sys-' temsof this sort being'shown in the remaining figures of my drawings, the one in Fig. .125 Sconiprising a suitable source of energy 1 .with which the terminals of a main trans former winding 23 are connected, one ter-v minal of'the winding 2ob'ein also connected winding of a motor 6. Connected between a suitable point 26 in the main transformer winding 23 and a terminal of the.

armature 27 of themotor--6,-is a secondary winding 28 -of a series transformerthe terminals of the primai'y winding 29 of which are connected respectively to terminals 30 of a reversing switch 31. Terminal 32 of the reversing switch 31 is connected to the' terminals 33 of the field magnet winding 25 and the armature winding. 27-, which are connected together, and terminal 34 is connected vto an arm 35 which is adapted to make engagement with contact terminals 36 in order to vary the voltage supplied to-the primary winding 29. If the Yreversing switch is in the position opposite to that shown by full lines, the series transformer serves to reduce the voltage applied by the transformer 23to the motor, and to return current to the trans former 23 corresponding in amount-to the reduction ofthemotor voltage. That is, the

voltage applied to themotor is less than that between the point 26 and the lower extremity of the transformer winding by an amount equal to the drop of potential in the secondary winding 28 of the series transformer.

The, entire current taken from the transformer 23 passes through the secondary winding 28 and the armature 27, and then divides, a part of. it passing through the field magnet winding 25, and the other part returning to the transformer 23 through the primary winding 29 of the series transformer. The latter part is, of course, determined in value by, the ratio of transformation of the series transformer, which should i be. other than unity and such that the current in the secondary winding will be greater than that in the primary winding. From the above explanatiomitwill be understood.

that. under this condition, the armature winding carries the entire current, while the field magnet windingcarries the difference between the currents in the primary'and secondarywindings of the series trans.- former. -If the reversing switch occupies the position shown in full lines, the series transformer serves to increase or boost the voltage applied by the transformer 23 to the motor, with the result that the voltage between the motor terminals is greater than that between the point 26 and the lower extremity of the transformer winding 23, and the motor speed increases, The current which traverses the armature 27 is, of course, again the same as that which traverses the secondary winding 28, but, since the primary winding 29 is now reversed, the field magnet winding 25 is traversed not only by the same current as the armature ,but also by the current that traverses the primal winding 29 of. the series transformer. the current in thejfiel'd magnet winding is the sum of the eurrents respectively .in the n thiscase, therefore.

armature 27 and the primary winding 29,

and the field magnet winding,..accordingly,'

carries a greater current in proportion to the armature current at full voltage than at low voltage, and the ratio of the ampere turns in the field magnet winding to those in the armature winding is less for starting conditions than for running conditions. It.

is evident that the application of the method which is embodied in this system is notlimited to what is shown in Fig. 8, but that the armature and field magnet windings of two or moremotprs maybe connected in parallel or in series, as shownrespectively in- Figs. 9

, and 10, or that they may bearranged in any other desired and suitable manner.

In Fig. 11, I have shown a modification of the systems shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, which consists in connecting one terminal of the main transformer winding 23 and an inter mediate point-37 thereof, near theother terminal, to the source of energy 1, this arrangement bein devised for the purpose of reducing the difference of potential between the terminals of the motor 6 and the conductor 38 which isconnected to the point 37 in the main transformer winding 23 and may be grounded at Gr.v

A' modification of the system just described is shown in Fig. 12, which consists in connecting the terminal 32 of the reversing switch 31 with one terminal of the secondary winding 28 and with one terminal of the armature 27 and in connectin'g the field magnetwinding 25 between one terminalof the main transformer winding 23 aud'a terminal of the source of energy 1. If the -reversing switch 31 is in the position opposite to that shown in full lines, t e series transformer will have the effect of reducing the voltage applied to 'the armature27 toless than that between the points 39 and 40.. Onlya part, therefore, ofthe current in the secondary winding 28 traverses the armature 27,..the remainder thereof returning to the. transformer- 23 through the'primary winding 29 of the series transformer. ;The current current in' the autotransformer winding 23,

and since this is dependent in value upon the a 1 25 fieldcurrent is also relatively low when'low input to the 'armature,-it is obvious that the voltages are applied to'the armature, With this arrangement, the current in the armature may be made greater for starting condi. tions than for running conditions without abnormally increasing the apparent power input to the motor, and the required starting torque may lee-obtained with the minimum If the reversing apparent power input. switch occupies the position shown in full lines, the series transformer will supplement the voltage applied by the transformer 23 to I the ,armature 27 so that the motor'will in:

crease in speed. The current which traverses thearmature is then the'sum of the currents in the primary and secondary windingsof the series transformers.- Since the armature current is now supplied at a higher voltage, for a given value thereof, the apparent power input to the armature will be greater than when the reversing switch occupies the position opposite to that shown in full lines. Wit-h an increased input to the armature, the primary, current in the.

;From the descriptions and explanations that have been given of Figs." 8 to 12, inelusive, itis seen that the ratio of the amperc-t-u rns in the field magnet winding to those in the armature is changed automatically as the voltage applied to the motor, or its speed, is adjusted. As the inductive component of the applied electromotive force is dependent upon .the valueof the current traversing the motor, with a given current the said inductive component is the same at all speeds and at all applied electromotive forces, providing nothing occurs during the changesof speed andvoltage to afiect the ratio of the ampere-turns respectively in the field and armature windings, Since, according to'the present invention, the said ratio is reduced during starting conditions, it is evident that the inductive component of the applied elect-romotive force is less under startmg conditions than when operating at I. I full speed.

Theseries transformer in each of Figs. 8

to 12, inclusive, may be replaced, if desired,

by any other suitable, device, such, for instance, as an induction regulator having primary and. secondary wind ngsthe inductive relations of which may be adjusted forthe' purpose of effecting gradual. variation of the speed of the motor, well as gradual changes in the ratio of the field to the armature ampere turns.

I make no claim herein to the method of operating motors which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification,

but have made such method the subject-mat ter of a divisional application, Serial No. 325,312, filed July 9, 1906.

While I have shown a number of specific means for changing or increasing the ratio 'tors is increased or changed.-

respect to of the ampere turns in the field magnet winding to the ampere turns in' the armature winding of a motor as the s eed increases, I do not wish to.limit mysel so far as the broader aspects of my invention are concerned, to' these particular means, but desire to cover broadly increasing or changing the ratio of the field magnetization to the armature magnetization as the speed of the H10- .I' claim 'as'my invention:

1. The combination with a source of alternating current energy and a main transformer winding connected thereto, of a mo-- tor or motors having series-connected armature-and field magnet windings, a terminal or terminals of the latter being connected to the main transformer winding, and voltageregulating apparatus comprising primary and secondary windings in inductive elation to each other, the latter, of which is connected between a terminal or terminals 0f"- the motor armature or armaturesi' and a point inthe main transformer winding, and v the terminals of the former of which are connected respectively to a second point of the main transformer winding and to the terminal or terminals of the armature and field magnet windings which are connected together.

2. The comhinationwith a source. of alter-- nating current energy and an electric motor having series-connected armature and .field magnet-windings, of means for supplying variable "oltages to the motor as a whole and for causing a larger amount of current to traverse the armature winding than trav erses thefield magnet winding when the lowervoltages are supplied to the motor.

3. The combination with a source of alternating current energy and an electric motor having series-connected armature and field magnet windings, of means for supplying variable voltages to the motor as awhole and for causing the ratio of the amount of current which traverses the field magnet winding to that. which traverses the arma ture' winding to change as the voltage applied to the motor is-varied.

4. The combination with a source of alternating current energy and an. electric motor having series-connected. armature and field'- magnet windings, of means for supplying variable voltages to the motor as a whole 4 for regulating. the speed thereof, the said having series-comiec'ted armature and field turns in the field mag'net winding to'those in the armature winding to change as the voltage applied .to the motor is yaried.

6. The combination with a source of alternating current energy and an electric motor magnet windings, of means for supplying variable voltages to the motor as a whole and for causing the ratio of the ampere turns in the field magnet winding to those in the armature winding to increase as the voltage applied to the motor is increased.

'7. The combination with a source of alterinating current energy and a motor or motors having series-connected armature and field magnet windings, of a main transformer winding having one terminal connected to said sourceand the other to the terminal or terminals of the armature and field magnet windings which are. connected together, the other terminal or terminals of the field mag net \vindings being connected to said source, and voltage regulating apparatus comprise ing primary and secondary windings in inductive relation to each other, one terminal of each of which is connected to the free armature terminal or terminals and the other terminals of which are connected respectively to points in the main transformer windii'ig. 7

8. The combination with an alternating current motor having series-connected ileld magnet and armature windings, and means motor having a series motor speed characteristic, of means for decreasing the ampere turns in the field-magnet winding with respect to those in the armature winding for starting until the inductive component of the applied electromotive force becomes a minimum.

9. The combination with an alternating current motor having series-connected field magnet and armature windings, and means. for regulating the speed thereof, the said motor having a series motor speed charac teristic', of means for decreasing the ampere turns in the field magnet winding with respect to those in the armature winding for starting until the inductive component of the applied electromotive force becomes a minimum and for increasing theratio of the ampere turns as the speed increases.

10. The combination with an alternating for varying the voltage applied to the motor as a whole and for causing the'ratio of the ampere turns in the field magnet winding to those in the armature winding to increase as the voltage is increased.

l2. Ihe combination. with a motor having series-coimected armature andfield magnet windings, ofa transformer winding-means for connecting the connected terminals of the armature and field magnet windings thereto, means for connecting the remaining armature terminal to the transformer wind-. ing, and means for varying the voltage applied to one of the motor windings.

13. .The combination with a source of energy, and a motor having series-connected armature and field magnet windings, of a transformer winding,,means'for connecting the connected terminals of the-armature and field magnet windings thereto, means for connecting the remaining'terminals of the motor windings respectively to the source and to the transformer winding, and means for varying the voltage applied-to one of the motor windings.

Intestimony whereof, 'I havehereunto sub4sccribed my name this 13th day of April, 190

, BENJ. G. LAMME.

Witnesses:

E. M. STEWART, BIRNEY Hmns. 

